Patty Judge — the Democrat who’s challenging Republican Senator Chuck Grassley’s bid for reelection — says Grassley is distorting HER record AND his own when it comes to pay raises. Grassley’s running a campaign ad that criticizes Judge for failing to voluntarily take a pay cut in 2009 when she was serving as Iowa’s lieutenant governor. “In the height of that recession, where he is trying to call me out, he took a permanent pay raise that was nearly $5000,” Judge says. “Now that was his 23rd raise since he went to Washington.”

Judge served one term as lieutenant governor and her salary was about 103-thousand dollars. “As lieutenant governor I never took a pay raise, including a cost of living adjustment. It simply was not done,” Judge says. Grassley told Radio Iowa earlier this week that “several times in the last five or six years” he’s taken “a pay cut.” Judge says that’s not a “straight answer.”

“He’s trying to claim that voting against a COLA — a cost of living adjustment — is the same thing as taking a pay cut, you know. Really,” Judge says. “Only someone who’s been in Washington too long would try to make that kind of argument.” According to the U.S. Senate’s website, the salaries for senators have been frozen at 174-thousand dollars since 2009. Judge says Grassley and other Republicans insisted on taking the longest summer recess since the 1950s — and she suggests their pay should be cut as a result of that extra vacation.

“Chuck Grassley is more concerned with airing negative attack ads today than working on behalf of Iowa,” Judge says. Grassley’s campaign manager is accusing Judge of trying to “change the subject” from her mismanagement of state government while she was lieutenant governor. Grassley campaign manager Robert Haus (like “house”) says Judge took a “meat cleaver” to the state budget and forced workers to take furloughs or be laid off, but wouldn’t take a pay cut herself.

Grassley told Radio Iowa on Tuesday that he has “consistently voted for measures to deny all congressional pay raises.” Judge says during the government shutdown of 2013 Grassley continued to accept his taxpayer-funded salary, while about 120 other members of congress donated their salaries to charity or back to the government.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

OSCEOLA, Iowa (AP) — Children were taken to two hospitals after their school bus toppled off a slick gravel road outside Osceola. Clarke Community School District Superintendent Steve Seid says eight to 10 elementary and middle school students were in the bus when it slid off the road and overturned Wednesday afternoon near Squaw Creek. Seid told The Des Moines Register the children appear to have only minor injuries but were taken to hospitals in Osceola and Des Moines as a precaution.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have identified a 10-year-old boy who died last week after crashing his bicycle into a tree. The Quad City-Times reports that Raydell Maurice Hurt Jr., of Davenport, died in the Friday accident. A preliminary investigation indicates that the boy was riding his bicycle down a hill in the cemetery when he lost control and hit the tree.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A third man convicted in the 2011 robbery and fatal shooting of a northwest Iowa resident has been sent to prison. Federal prosecutors say Courtland Clark, of Flowery Branch, Georgia, was sentenced Wednesday to 21 years in custody. He’d pleaded guilty to interference with commerce by robbery and to a weapons offense.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Supreme Court has decided to let an attorney who took more than $99,000 from a client resume practicing law. The Des Moines Register reports that the justices ruled unanimously to reinstate Michael Reilly’s law license. The court ruling released Friday said Reilly had worked hard to overcome a gambling addiction that led to the theft. Several western Iowa lawyers had written letters vouching for his character.

By a vote of 6-to-1, the Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, moved to enforce the City’s Animal Protection and Control Ordinance, and will require the owners of a pot bellied pig to remove the animal from their home at 805 Chestnut Street. Councilman Chris Jimerson was the only vote in favor of leaving the animal where it is.

Prior to their vote, the Council heard from the owners of “Pumba,” Chris and Darci Coatney. Darci Coatney said “The only reason we even got a pig was because of a childhood dream to have one. They are very smart, he is completely potty trained,” and (acts like a dog when given a command).

Chris (Left) and Darci Coatney make their case for “Pumba”

She said if she would have been told they would have to get rid of Pumba last year, when the Police first showed up and he was just a piglet, “He would have been a lot easier to get rid of, I would have done it with no problem…we could have made different arrangements so he’s not in the back yard.”

Chris Coatney said the issue of flies a neighbor complained about, is because they (the neighbor) has fly traps designed to attract insects that would normally be found on a farm. He said also “We haven’t had one person sit here (at his home) and say that there’s any smell.” He said his family is very attached to the pig, and “it’s part of the family now.”

Rebecca Sponsler, the neighbor who complained to the Community Protection Commission about the flies, smell and the effect on her property value, said she has no problem with family or the pig, but the smell is intolerable.

“Pumba,” the pot bellied pig.

Councilman Dana Halder said allowing the pig to live within the City would “Open up a whole ‘nother can of worms,” and its unfortunate that it’s gone on this long. Newly appointed Councilman Gerald Brink said “It’s hard to lose a pet…but since there is an ordinance in-place, I agree with Dana, that at this point in time we have no choice.”

Councilman Chris Jimerson said pot bellied pigs are not mean and are pretty intelligent, but he understands the issue with the odor. He says it’s all about being a good neighbor, with regard to pig droppings in the yard and cleaning up after it, and “I think people can do that.”

It’s not clear where “Pumba” will end-up, but in all likelihood, he will be relocated to a farm setting.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Small businesses in 35 states are getting research grants from a federal government program designed to help develop products related to food security, natural resources and agricultural issues. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Wednesday that 76 businesses will receive $7.4 million.

Bugeater Labs in Lincoln, Nebraska, is getting help developing rice and pasta products from protein-rich bugs and Windcall Manufacturing in Venango, Nebraska, is developing a small handheld grain combine designed to gather grain samples for moisture level testing.

In Iowa, Accelerated Ag Technologies of Urbandale is developing methods for storing plant pollen to help in the development of new hybrids and Gross-Wen Technologies in Ames hopes to develop algae that removes nitrogen and phosphorous from wastewater and is then turned into a slow-release fertilizer. Most grants are around $100,000.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – A new auditorium at the University of Iowa is set to be open after the original space was damaged by flooding. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports the original Hancher Auditorium opened in 1972. It was damaged beyond repair by a 2008 flood and the building’s demolition started in 2013.

The new 1,800-seat auditorium features silver-green padded chairs, eight sets of gallery seats above the orchestra level and two balconies. It’s scheduled to be unveiled in a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday.

The auditorium has a stage that is 13 feet higher than the old stage. The entire building is also 7 feet above the Iowa River’s 500-year flood level. The construction of the new auditorium cost $176 million.

A survey of Iowa State Fairgoers suggests that students and families overestimate the debt associated with college, likely planning for the worst when preparing for the financial impact of higher education. Overall, 58 percent of those surveyed expect student debt from earning a college degree to top $35,000.

That number is 30 percent higher than the average student debt for Iowa public university graduates (just over $27,000) and 10 percent higher than the average debt for graduates of private, not-for-profit colleges and universities in Iowa ($31,806). The number was two and a half times the average debt for graduates of Iowa’s community colleges (just over $14,000).

The survey was taken by Iowa College Aid, the state agency administering state grants and scholarships for students continuing their education after high school as well as helping families prepare, plan and pay for college. At the fair, Iowa College Aid looked to both gauge the public’s ideas on student loan debt and help shine a light on areas where perception and reality differ.

“We know that more than half of Iowans who never enroll in postsecondary education cite cost as the reason,” said Karen Misjak, Iowa College Aid executive director. “That means an unrealistic expectation of student loan debt could hinder Iowa’s efforts to increase the number of residents who pursue higher education.”

For more information about planning and paying for college, visit IowaCollegeAid.gov.

A traffic stop Tuesday night in Pottawattamie County resulted in two drug-related arrests. Sheriff’s officials say a Deputy stopped a car at around 10-p.m. in the 3500 block of Harry Langdon Blvd., after a check of the license showed the registered owner had a suspended license. During the stop, the Deputy noticed drug paraphernalia and open containers of alcohol, in plain view. There was also a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle.

The driver was cited for Operating Under Suspension. Two passengers, 25-year old Alex John Rocha, and Brandon Jordan Rocha, both of Council Bluffs, were arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. One of the men was also charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance. Both were also cited for Open Container as a passenger.

Among the items recovered from the vehicle, was a multi-colored “bong,” and two marijuana grinders, along with a sandwich bag containing a “Green leafy substance” suspected of being marijuana.

The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office says three people were injured during a collision Tuesday afternoon near Bushville. Officials say Oren (Junior) Campbell was southbound on Highway 148 in his 2013 Ford Edge SUV. Devin Barnes of Athens, Texas, was eastbound on J-20 in a 1997 Chevy Silverado owned by Kendal Arnold of Villisca.

As Campbell came to the intersection Barnes allegedly ran the stop sign at the intersection and came into the path of the pickup. Following the collision, both vehicles came to rest southeast of the intersection in the ditch.

Devin Barnes, Oren Campbell and his wife Wanda, were transported to the hospital in Corning. Both vehicles appeared to have been totaled during the crash. Charges against Barnes are currently pending. Assisting Taylor County Sheriff’s Office were Deputies from Adams County, Corning Fire and EMS, Taylor County EMS and Lenox Fire.

The largest for-profit college in the country is closing immediately, but it’s not clear how many Iowa students may be affected. I-T-T Technical Institutes offered courses on-line and has operated attendance centers in the Des Moines suburb of Clive and Cedar Rapids, but the Cedar Rapids campus was closed and the Clive campus already had been targeted for closure.

I-T-T lost its accreditation and is under investigation for fraud. The U.S. Department of Education in August announced the school could not enroll students who were depending on federal financial aid. Federal grants and loans were I-T-T’s main source of revenue. Attorneys general from 20 states — including Iowa — have been investigating complaints against the school.

More than 40-thousand students had enrolled in I-T-T courses for the quarter that started this month. It’s unclear how those students can transfer credits to other schools or even if that’s possible.

I-T-T offered courses in business, information technology, nursing and health sciences. Federal officials say students who were defrauded by the school can apply for loan discharges.

(Radio Iowa)

The Cass County Board of Supervisors this (Wednesday) granted permission for a Bible Reading Marathon to take place on the courthouse block grounds, Sept. 19th through the 25th. Their action followed an explanation of the event from Sheryl Ieckel, of Atlantic. She said after a similar event was spearheaded at the State Capital in January, Governor Terry Branstad on April 26th, signed a proclamation that encouraged all Iowans to participate in the historic 99 county marathon.

In his proclamation, Branstad also encouraged “Individuals and families in Iowa to read through the Bible on a daily basis each year until the Lord comes.”  50 counties were able to hold bible reading session during the intended time frame for the event from June 30th through July 3^rd.  Ieckle says the remaining counties are being asked to hold their reading session this month. She says the event in Cass County is planned for Sept. 19^th through the 25^th, from 7-a.m. to 7-p.m.

People will gather on the east lawn of the courthouse and read in 15-minute blocks for the 80 or so hours it will take to read the bible from cover to cover. Cass County Supervisor Chuck Rieken said he was not opposed to having the event held on the courthouse grounds, since it will not interfere with parking or access to the courthouse, but he warned it would mean other groups in the future, cannot be excluded in making similar requests.

The American Civil Liberties Union and the Freedom from Religion Foundation raised constitutional concerns over the proclamation, arguing the government should be “neutral” toward religion. The “First Liberty Institute” has said it will defend Branstad if he is sued over the matter.

In other business, the Board of Supervisors, per Iowa Code, passed a resolution abating the taxes on parcels of land owned by the City of Atlantic. And, they accepted the termination of lease agreements for County-owned crop and pasture ground, but rejected requests by the current tenants to have their three-year leases renewed beginning next Spring, at a lower rate.

The Board, in years past, has put County-owned land up for bid, and they will do so again next Spring, because they didn’t want to go against the practice they had already established.